(HealthDay News) -- A dangerous tickborne illness may be difficult for doctors to diagnose, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

So what can you do to protect yourself? Ticks are more active during the warmer months of April through September, so the CDC suggests avoiding areas that may be infested with ticks, treating clothing and exposed skin with insect repellent, and doing a thorough tick examination on after prolonged time outside.

If you have been bitten, the CDC mentions these potential symptoms of a tickborne illness: